Alabama has fourth-highest obesity rate, 18 to 24 age group makes up largest percentage of obese

Mississippi has the highest obesity rate in the country with 35 percent while Colorado came in as the lowest with 21 percent.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- A new study estimates 32 percent of adults in Alabama are obese, putting Alabama in fourth place for the state with the highest obesity rates.

The figures, which indicates more than one-third of the nation's adult population is obese, were released by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention based on a 2011 telephone survey of households that for the first time factored in respondents who have cell phones only. Participants were asked to provide their weight and height. Rates varied by state.

While at first glance it would appear that Alabama's rate dropped 0.2 percent since 2010, the CDC said the surveys could not be compared since the survey methodology differentiated between the two years.

The CDC changed its survey format to try to reach a more accurate representation of the population. Since the poll was conducted only on land lines in previous years, the 2011 survey was able to reach a wider demographic.

While gender, age and income status specifics of the 2011 survey for the state have not been released, Gaines says previous years have shown that the 18 to 24 age group is the most obese.

Gaines says the state is combating the rising obesity rate by making a healthy lifestyle more easily accessed to Alabama residents.

"We're trying to have weight go down by making it easier to eat better, be healthier and move more," said Gaines.

Gaines says the Alabama Department of Public Health is encouraging communities to make environmental changes that would make it easier for their residents to be physical active, like the addition of biking lanes or walking trails.

In addition, the state is promoting various programs to encourage greater fitness including Scale Back Alabama, an annual statewide competition in its sixth year.

Scale Back Alabama allows individuals to work as a team to win prizes by losing weight over a certain amount. Participants must weigh in and registered sites during the contest on a weekly basis.

Throughout the span of competition, 197,968 people have participated in the program, losing almost 760,000 pounds total.